Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-16
Continued from Yesterday
A SHIP OF '49.
BY BRET HARTE.
copyrighted by Houghton, Mittiin & Co., and
published BY arrangement with theIn-l

Sleight looked at his companion atten-
lively. you might have said so at first,
and let up on this campmeetin' exhorta-
ton. Well then-admitting you've got
the old man and the young girl On the
same string, and that you've played it
pretty low down in the short time you've
been there--I suppose, Dick Renshaw,
I've got to see your bluff. Well, how
much is it, What's the figure you and
she have settled on;''
For an instant Mr.. Sleight was in phys
ical danger. But before he had finished
speaking Renshaw's quick sense of the
ludicrous had 50 far overcome his first in
dignation az to enable him even to admire
the perfect moral insensibility Of his com
panion. As he rose and walked towards
the door, he half wondered that he had
ever treated the affair seriously. With
smile he replied:
'fFar from bluhing, Sleight, / am
throwing my cards on the table. Con-
slider that I've passed out. Let some
other man take my hand. Rake down
the pot If you Ike, old man; leave for
Sacramento tonight Adios."
When the door had closed behind him
Mr. Sleight summoned his clerk.
SIS that petition for grading Pontiac
street readyf'
~ 've seen the largest property holders,
sir; they're only waiting for you to sign
first" Mr.. Sleight paused and then af
fixed his signature to the paper his clerk
laid before him. Get the other names
and send it up at once"
"If Mr., Mott doesn't sign it, sir'"
mo matter. He will be assessed all
the same" Mr.. Sleight took up his hat.
''The Lascar seaman that was here the
other day has been wanting to see you, sir.
| said you were busy"
Mr. Sleight put down his hat. Send
him up"
Nevertheless Mr. Sleight sat down and
at once distracted himself 50 completely
as TO be apparently in utter oblivion of
the man who entered. He was 1.-THE and
Indian looking, bearing in dress and man
ner the careless SLOUGH without the easy
frankness Of u sailor.
''Well" said Sleight without look
ing up.
II was only wantin to know eff you had
any news for me, boss"
''News?r echoed Sleight as if absently;
news Of whats'
That little matter of the Pontiac we
talked about, boss, - returned the Lascar
with an uneasy servilty in the whites of
his teeth end eyes
"Oh, said Sleight, that's played out.
It's regular fraud It's an old fore
castle yarn, my man, that you can't reel
off in the cabin"
The sailors face darkened
''The man who was looking into it has
thrown the whole thing up. tell you
it's played outI' repeated Sleight, with
out raising his head,
ITS true, boss-every word, said the
Lascar, with an appealing insinuation
that seemed to struggle hard with savage
earncstues5 You can swear me, boss;
| wouldn't lie to a gentleman like you.
Your man hasn't half looked, or else-it
must be there, Or
That's just it," said Sleight slowly;
"who's to know that your friends haven't
been .there already-that seems to have
been your style"
But no one knew it but me, until
told you, swear to God. l amt lying,
boss, and | amt drunk. Say-don't give
it up, boss. That man of yours likely
don't believe it, because he don't know
anything about it. | do could find it. )"
\ silence followed. Mr. Sleight re-
manned completely absorbed in his papers
for some moments. Then CHANGING at the
Lascar, he took his peu, wrote hurried
note folded it, addressed it, and, holding
it between his fingers, leaned back in his
chair.
"If you choose to take this note to my
man, he may give it another show. Mind,
| don't say that he will. He's going to
Sacramento tonight, but you could go
down there and find him before he starts.
He's got room there, believe. While
you're waiting for him, you might keep
your eyes open to satisfy Yourself
"Ay, ay, sir, said the sailor, eagerly
endcavoring to catch the eye of his en-
ployer But Mr. Sleight looked straight
before him, and he turned to go.
1.-The sacramento boat goes at 8, " said
Mr.. Sleight quietly,
This time their glances met and the
I.ascar's eye slistened with subtle intelli-
gence. The next moment he was gone,
and Mr. Sleght again became absorbed in
his papers.
Meanwhile RenShaw was making his
way back TO the Pontiac with that light
hearted optimism that had characterized
his parting with Sleight. 1t was this
quality of his nature, fostered perhaps by
the easy civilization in which he moved,
that had originally drawn him into re-
lations with the man he had just quilted;
a quality that had been troubled and
darkened by those relations, yet, when
they were broken, az once returned. 1t
consequently did not occur to him that he
had only selfishly compromised with the
difficulty; it seemed to him enough that
he had withdrawn from a compact he
thought diShonorable; he was not called
upon to betray his partner in that COM
pact merely to benefit others. He had
been willing to incur suspicion and loss
to reinstate himself in his self respect,
more he could not do without justify
ing that suspicion. The view taken
by Sleight was, after all, that which most
business men would take-which even the
unbusinesslike Mott would take-which
the girl herself might be tempted to listen
to. Clearly he could do nothing but aban
don the Pontiac and her owner to the
fate he could not in honor avert. And
even that fate was problematical 1t did
not follow that the treasure was still con-
cealed in the Pontiac, nor that Mott would
be willing to sell her He would make
some excuse TO Nott-he smiled to think
he would probably be classed in the long
line of abscouding tenants-he would say
goodby to RoSey. and leave for Sacra-
mento that night He assembled the stairs
to the gangway with freer breast than
when he first entered the ship.
Mr.. Mott was evidently absent. and after
a quick glance at the half open cabin
door Renshaw turned towards the galley.
But Miss Rosey was not in her accus-
toned haunt. and with feeling of disap-
pointment, which seemed inconsistent
with SO slight cause, he crossed the deck
impatiently. and entered his room. He